Some people put off installing a softener in their home because they mistakenly believe certain myths that surround water softeners and how they work. In this article, we look at some of these beliefs to dispel any misgivings you may have.
Do I Really Need a Water Softener? Surely My Tap Water is Perfectly Fine!
In a developed country such as the UK, we are lucky to have clean water “on tap” in every home across the country; water that is completely safe to drink and use around the home. While our water companies work hard to ensure our domestic water supplies are safe to use, the water supplies in many parts of the country contain high levels of minerals such as Calcium which make water “hard”. The minerals in hard water will form a hard chalky residue (limescale) over your pipes, bathroom fittings and heating elements found in kettles and washing machines. Not only is this unsightly, but over time, limescale build-up can damage fittings and cause your kettles and washing machines to malfunction.
Will a Water Softener Be Expensive?
Some people are put off by the cost of investing in a water softener, another home appliance that uses electricity and needs regular topping up with salt. But while there are costs involved in owning a water softener, these are greatly outweighed by the long-term savings you will enjoy and the many economic benefits of having softer water.
Your water softened home will give electrical appliances such as washing machines, irons and kettles a much longer lifespan, needing far fewer repairs. Electrical water heaters will operate much more efficiently with softer water, reducing your heating bills. Fittings such as shower-heads and taps won’t become caked in ugly limescale and won’t need replacing. You won’t need to use so much laundry detergent, and you will probably find that your clothes look newer for longer when washed in soft water.
These long-term benefits make a compelling money-saving case for installing a water softener in your home.
Will Bathing in Soft Water Make Me Feel Clean?
The “hard” minerals in hard water react differently with soaps, shower gels and shampoos we use every day, making these cosmetics harder to wash off our skin when bathing. This can result in hair that looks dull and feels unmanageable because of product build up, skin that feels dry and itchy due to soap residue, and increased problems with dandruff and eczema.
A water softener will allow your soaps and shampoos to work more effectively. After installing a water softener, customers have noted how they don’t need to use so much product when bathing, and that their hair feels softer and looks shinier, and their skin feels more vibrant.
Will a Water Softener Make My Water Salty?
Water softener systems need salt (NaCl) in order to effectively remove the “hard” minerals in your water supply, but they do not add ANY salt to your water, making it completely safe for you and your plumbing system (there is no danger of your pipes or fittings rusting). The salt (NaCl) you use in your water softener works to remove minerals such as Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) from your water supply by effectively exchanging these minerals for the sodium (Na) contained in the salt.
Will a Water Softener Add Unhealthy Amounts of Sodium to My Drinking Water?
As described above, water softeners remove minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium (which create damaging limescale) from your water by effectively replacing them with sodium (Na) ions. Sodium is an important mineral that is essential for the healthy functioning of our bodies, but diets that are very high in sodium (too much salty food) can increase blood pressure creating health risks. Please be assured that the amount of sodium added to your softened water is too small to be any cause for concern regarding your family’s health.
Our drinking water filter taps are the ideal partner to a water softener that allow fresh filtered water literally on tap.
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